Four peregrine falcon chicks born this spring in a nesting box at the Sioux Energy Center have been banded to help researchers follow them in their lives. On Friday, May 23, representatives from Ameren Missouri and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) gathered at the center as staff from the World Bird Sanctuary (WBS) placed bands on the peregrine falcon chicks. The procedure is harmless to the birds.
When the falcons leave the nest, or fledge, the bands will provide information to help researchers understand the lives of these highly migratory birds.
The information on the bands is forwarded to the U.S. Geological Survey, which enters it into a nationwide database. The colors, letters and numbers of each band are specific to the chick. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations interested in the wellbeing of the peregrines monitor the information. The bands help researchers monitor birds' movement, whether the movement results from migration, from summer to winter grounds and back, or from more localized activity. Access to this information enables researchers to determine migratory patterns as well as identify problems that can lead to drastic population loss.
The daily lives of the falcon family are available online on our Falcon Cam from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at AmerenMissouri.com/FalconWatch, www.worldbirdsanctuary.org and at www.mdc.mo.gov.
For more information on peregrine falcons, visit MDC online at http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/peregrine-falcon.
In its continuing commitment to environmental stewardship, Ameren Missouri has worked with WBS to provide a suitable habitat for songbirds. Nesting boxes have been attached to Ameren Missouri transmission towers and the company has spent more than $300,000 to install nesting boxes and nesting tower materials. Ameren Missouri also has installed 1,000 swan diverters on about 1.5 miles of transmission power lines that cross the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary north of St. Louis near Alton, IL. The diverters are static lines that do not carry electricity. Swans spot them in flight and fly around them, protecting the birds and the reliability of our power lines.
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Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.2 electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company's service area covers 63 counties and more than 500 communities including the greater St. Louis area. For more information please visit AmerenMissouri.com or follow AmerenMissouri on Facebook or Twitter.